Benches and Settees

Setting your Style with Settees

Settee, settle, sofa, couch? Some people might have a hard time making the distinction. But not you. You know a settee when you see one and your sense of style calls for it like a siren's song. But, choosing a settee – or finding creative ways to show it off – takes a bit of imagination. We have a few suggestions that might help to give you a few great ideas.

First, consider your overall style. Is it formal or a bit more casual? Classic or more modern? Trendy, eclectic or shabby-chic? Whatever your style, settees can enhance any room decor beautifully. Creating a comfortable sanctuary, matching your décor to a “T” or defining contrasts is easy when using settees.

The classic style is easy on the eyes and oh, so elegant. Give your living room a formal, yet welcoming feeling by adding a settee to your living room ensemble. Place a low table or ottoman in a complimentary style in front of the settee or flank it with a pair of matching tables for an elegant look. In the entryway, a settee and matching occasional table gives visitors a wonderful preview of the decor in the rest of your home.

hand painted English style carved wood settee

Settees and benches are not just for formal decor. If your tastes run a bit more casual, you can use a pair of settees in the living room of the same or complimenting styles in a conversation cluster with a coffee table or ottoman in between them for a set up that is cozy and inviting. In the home office, a settee is a wonderful addition to the otherwise Spartan and austere surroundings. It truly becomes your personal haven when you need to take the time to think and reflect.

Add drama to your living room or even your bedroom by placing a beautiful
crescent-back settee or
English style settee along the wall with a tall, slender and gracefully cascading plant, such as a Kentia palm or weeping fig tree. Be sure to use a silk plant if you have low light in the room. Complete the look by adding an occasional table and an ottoman or footstool. Place a piece of art from your travels and add adventure to the grouping.

Love contrasting styles, fabrics and colors? Settees can make a dynamic statement. Place a light colored settee of a classic or even Baroque design near a wall painted in a bold, dark color, such as red or blue. Go even further and decorate the wall above the settee with vintage geometric or abstract art, such as from the Cubism era, like a Cezanne or Picasso print. Talk about an eye-catcher!

The versatility of decorating with settees is limited only by your imagination. Have fun and enjoy the adventure!

How to use benches and settees in your home
Technically, both the bench and settee are similar in construction, and often the names are interchangeable. Both settees and benches can be crafted of nearly any material, most often wood or metal (I've seen sturdy pieces covered in brightly painted papier-mâché in my travels) and fashioned to suit virtually any style. But to put a picture in your mind to the words, each has specific features....read
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adding style with benches
For sheer versatility in serving a number of uses, it's difficult to imagine a more hardworking category of furniture than
benches. For occasional seating, storing an extra blanket, or serving as a perch for guests' items, a bench can fill the job with
style and panache. Benches have such a wide variety of uses; you'll find them to be a helpful and beautiful addition to any room in your home. And they also the advantage of being easily moved, so you can quickly place your bench in a new location as your needs change. In addition, benches can also be graceful and beautiful to look at, so they enhance the overall look
and feel of a room by making a stylistic statement...
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